Written in the Stars

CHAPTER 3.1 - Ceasefire

•stille•
silent
making no sound; quiet; still

Kirsten's POV

It's been weeks since that incident happened and I've started to learn how to fight my emotions. There are still some, no erase that, a lot of times where I get into war with Barber and Allison but I don't break down like what happened last time. It seems that I already got used to it. Although I don't want any of it to happen, they always start it and I just defend myself. But in my honest opinion, I want to stop it.

It's the week where I feel myself the most. Exams week. Tomorrow is the start of the examinations so I really really have to study so I will ace the exams. I can say that I did a great job on the performance tasks and quizzes but this is different. For me to get that highest rank, I should also do great on the examinations.

I'm at my favorite spot in the library, I often study here or sometimes just to read fiction books. But since this is the exams week we're talking about, I'm always here. Like all of my free time, you know where to go if you want to see me.

The most unusual thing is that Barber is also at his spot near me, just at the other end of the table. I mean it's not unusual that he's studying too because I remember Ate By told me that he's top 1. What's unusual is that he's not throwing insults at me or that he's not being a jerk. Whenever we are in that spot of the library, we are at peace. We are in that state that there are no fights and arguments so we can study quietly and focus on what we are doing, just like a ceasefire. I often catch him glancing at me and look away when our eyes meet. It bothers me sometimes but I think he's challenged because I will put up a fight, that's why he's checking on me.

I was studying biology when suddenly

"ACHOO!" I sneezed. WHAAAT THEE F! That was so humiliating knowing that Barber is here. I think, no, I know I looked horrible when I did that. What's more embarrassing is that I heard Barber chuckle. Please kill me now.

*ring*Someone is calling me. I put my hanky on the table as I reached for my phone.

(Isang ubo nalang is calling you) I laughed a little at the contact name I've set for Ate By. I answered the call and she sounded worried.

"Kisses! Nasan ka? Pumunta ka dito sa dorm. Bilis! Emergency!" Ate By was agitated.

"Ate By, okay ka lang ba? Anong nangyari? May nangyari bang masama sayo?" I was dead worried. She sounded sincere.

"Mahirap i-explain, mamaya ko nalang ipaliwanag sayo. Pumunta ka na lang dito." She said.

"Opo, eto na bibilisan ko na" I ended the call.

I gathered my books and hurriedly went to the dorm. I thought I heard Barber calling me but that's ridiculous. Why would he call me? He wouldn't want to interact with me casually.

I quickly made our way to the dorm. When I got there, I didn't expect what I saw. She was putting on makeup and dressed like she's going out. Well, it was unexpected because I was expecting something horrible.

"So, anong emergency?" I asked flat.

"Huh? Ah! Lalabas tayo, Kisses! Magbihis ka na." she held my hands and said excitingly.

"Emergency yun?" I asked sarcastically.

"Sinabi ko lang yun para pumunta ka dito kasi alam kong hindi ka naman susunod kung sasabihin ko ang totoo eh," she explained.

"Pero Ate By, kailangan ko mag-aral para sa exams! Kailangan ko makakuha ng high grades," I reasoned out. I really wanted those high grades to make my parents proud and for my own satisfaction.

"Hay nako, Kisses! Buong buwan mo na binababad sarili mo sa pagaaral. Kung alam ko lang, kabisado mo na siguro yung mga libro natin! Kailangan mo irelax yung utak mo para gumana ng maayos kaya halika at sumama ka sa akin." she said.

She's got a point tho. But still, ugh. I don't know anymore.

"Pero, Ate By." I opposed.

"Tara na. Okay na pala yang suot mo." she dragged me out of the room.

"Ate By, may magagawa pa ba ako. Hintayin mo ko magpapalit lang ako ng damit ko." I eventually said yes.

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Abigail's POV

"Ate By, feeling ko talaga ang dami kong maling sagot!" Kisses cried out. We were eating lunch that time after we finished answering our last examination.

"Hala, baka ako. Eh ikaw, baka nga perfect mo pa yun eh." I replied.

"Kasi naman Ate By napuyat ako nung gabing yun eh. Feeling ko tuloy ang dami kong nakalimutan sa pinagaralan ko." she cried again. Now her head is resting on her arms on the table

[FLASHBACK]
The night before the examinations, I brought her to a scare park. It was almost Halloween so maybe it's the perfecy time to have a scare. Knowing her, this would be fun.

"ATE BYYYY! BAKIT MO KO DINALA DITO? Umuwi na tayo!" she was screaming when we reached the destination.

"HAHAHAHA! Para ka namang bata, Kisses! Dapat matry mo to." I started dragging her to different booths.

We tried a lot of games and activities. We also watched a horror movie which she just spent by screaming and hiding the whole time. Kahit hindi pa nakakatakot na part sumisigaw na, siya lang sumisigaw so medyo nakakahiya. Binabatukan ko nga minsan eh haha.

I saved the best for last which is the scare house. She was holding my arms so tightly when we entered. To be honest, it was actually scary. We were both screaming everytime a ghost pops out. But then, when a zombie scared Kisses, she literally screamed so loud and ran as fast as she could. I couldn't help but laugh at her face.

I've started finding my way out and find Kisses. What I saw next was scary.

Kisses is on top of a guy and she is holding his face. I went nearer to the scene and now I can hear her crying "sorry" and "are you hurt" repeatedly. She was crying for sure, it's on her tone. Is she hurt? I was shocked when I realized who the guy was. Barber. I quickly grabbed Kisses and faced her to me. She was crying as in her eyes are full of tears. Her glasses were missing.

"Ate By, ikaw ba yan?" she sobbed.

"Kisses! Ano nangyari sayo? Nasaktan ka ba? Nasan ang salamin mo?" I asked continuously.

"Di ko po makita Ate By," she's still crying. I saw her glasses on the ground a few feet away and I put it back on to her.

"Ouch, ang sakit ng bewang ko Ate." she's hurt, "may nabangga ako Ate By, di ko nakita. Siya" she turned to point the person she was referring to but was quickly astonished when she realized who it was.

"Barber?! You!" she shouted.

"Hey don't you scream at me woman!" he stood up. Bastos.

"Sinaktan mo ba si Kisses!" I started hitting him but he was blocking all of it.

"Stop it! I'm the victim here!" he shouted back.

Pinigilan ako ni Kisses, "Ate By, tama na. Kasalanan ko. Ako nakabangga sa kanya. Di ko kasi nakita," she explained softly.

"Next time, tell your friend not to be so clumsy!" Barber exclaimed and left. Napakayabang talaga nun. Sungit pa. Kung di ka lang gwapo!

"Nakakahiya, Ate By!" Kisses hugged me.
[END OF FLASHBACK]

"Bakit mo nakalimutan? Kasi kaka isip sa nangyari sainyo ni sungit?" I teased her.

"Ewan ko sa'yo, Ate By! Ilang beses ko na sinabi sayo. Di ko siya nakilala kasi umiiyak ako." she said.

"Sus, tigilan mo ko Kisses. Gusto mo yun eh!" I teased her again.

"Ate By!" she started to blush.

"Oh wag ka mamula! Namumula ka tulad ni sungit nung nasa ibabaw ka niya," her eyes widened at my statement.

She just hid her face with her hands. Maybe wanting to hide her red face. Haha.